And then the chopper was there, circling in slowly to hover about 75 feet from the ground.

Kids cheered again as a passenger waved and began dumping out three orange tubs full of numbered golf balls.

Students had sold the balls for $10 a pop. The ones that landed closest to markers on the ground won their buyers a prize.

For the last three years, the ball drop has been a fundraiser for the educational program at the 300-student Catholic school.

The annual event started when parent Mike Manclark volunteered to fly in his helicopter as part of the fundraiser.

"He's done it before for golf tournaments," his wife, Michelle, said
as she snapped photos of kids gathering the golf balls in their shirts,
pockets and jackets afterward.

The event raised about $21,000 last year, and the school estimates it collected about that much this year.

"I think the best part about it is watching the kids," said McNulty, who organized the event.

Most students were gathered on the blacktop, sitting cross-legged and
covering their eyes or ears as the copter kicked up dust. But a group
of seventh-grade boys closest to the chopper clutched the fence as the
gusts hit them the hardest.

"This side is the best," said student Cole McFetters.

Seventh-grader Wil Sandberg said that for the last two years, he and
his classmates have homed in on the most hurricane-like spot so they
could "feel the rush — adrenaline."

For the first time this year, the grand prize went to someone who
bought just one ball. Ten percent of the raffle's overall proceeds will
go to Shannon Bales, who bought a single ball from student Jackson
Young, McNulty said.